A MAJOR railway line which sees 650 trains pass through every day, is set to close for an entire week.
The closure is taking place due to planned engineering works, with commuters able to take replacement buses instead.
Network RailwayA busy train line will be closed for a week[/caption]
Southeastern and Thameslink passengers will be affected by the closure, which will take place in the Dartford area.
Trains will not be running between Gravesend, Dartford, Slade Green, Barnehurst and Crayford during the February half term in 2026, which runs from Saturday, February 14, to Sunday, February 22.
There will also be no Thameslink service between Plumstead and Gravesend, and an hourly Thameslink shuttle service will run between Gravesend and Rainham.
Additionally, all Southeastern Metro routes which pass through Dartford will be subject to change.
Highspeed services to and from London, St Pancras via Gravesend will continue to operate, however, passengers have been warned that reductions have been planned for peak-time services, particularly affecting the Hayes and Sidcup lines, with minor impacts on the Bexleyheath, Greenwich, and North Kent lines.
Lewisham, St Johns, New Cross, and London terminals will also be affected by service reductions.
There will also be rail replacement buses serving Gravesend, Dartford, Slade Green, Barnehurst and Crayford on Saturday, February 8, Sunday, February 9, Sunday, March 1 and Sunday, April 5 for preparation works.
The planned work will include the renewal of 10 switches and crossings that allow trains to change tracks.
It will also include the installation of 400 yards of new rail, and the conductor rail that powers trains between Slade Green and Dartford.
There will also be platform adjustments at Dartford station, such as reducing the stepping distance between platforms and trains to improve safety.
The work is set to cost £10 million, and is set to improve the reliability of the Dartford Junction railway.
Network Rail said that more information on alternative travel will be provided in the autumn.
David Davidson, chief operating officer for Southeastern Railway, said: “The work at Dartford Junction, where 650 trains pass every day, is a vital investment in the long-term resilience and efficiency at one of the busiest sections on the South Eastern Railway network.
“We know there’s never a good time to do work like this, but we’ve deliberately chosen the half- term to minimise disruption, when schools are on holiday and fewer people are commuting.
“To make the most of the time available, we’ll also carry out additional improvement work at Dartford station.
“We understand this closure will significantly impact travel, and we’re working hard to ensure passengers are fully informed about its impact and the alternative travel arrangements available.”
Your rights to compensation for train delays
YOU may be able to get compensation for train journeys that have been delayed or cancelled.
You’ll usually need to apply as you won’t get it automatically.
Train companies have adopted “delay repay”, a national scheme used to compensate you for unexpected delays.
Passengers are entitled to compensation for a delay of 15 minutes or more.
How much you get back depends on how long the delays are and the type of ticket you have.
Compensation ranges from 25% of the ticket price to 100%. You’ll get a full refund if your train was delayed by 120 minutes or longer.
It doesn’t matter which train company you are travelling with – the scheme is nationwide and all firms are part of it.
But how you claim the money back will be up to each train company and you’ll have to apply directly. You can usually do this online.
You’ll probably need a picture of your ticket and information about the train service you were on to claim.
You can find each train line and how to claim at: www.nationalrail.co.uk/travel-information/find-a-train-company/
If your train is delayed or cancelled and you choose not to travel, you can get a refund on the ticket from where you bought it and there are no fees.
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